House Insurance Vacation Check List
Your vacation is a time to set concerns aside and relax. A home offers a world of conveniences that can also include complex systems. By addressing outdoor areas, plumbing, electrical, communication, heating and cooling systems, securing your home and having a point person aligned before your departure, you can help minimize risk to your home while you enjoy time away.
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Things to Arrange
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If pets are staying behind, arrange for their proper care. Either have a trusted neighbor retrieve your mail, packages and newspapers or have your deliveries stopped until your return. The U.S. Postal Service will usually hold mail for you for a limited period, provided you sign an official request. Around your yard, have lawns and shrubs maintained during your absence. If you are leaving when there is a possibility of snow, make sure snow is shoveled off your walkways and sidewalks during your time away. If you are leaving trash and recycling, have a neighbor or other trusted person set out barrels or bins and retrieve them promptly after pickup. Have a friend, family member or trusted neighbor take a regular look and listen around your home. Leave your contact information in the event of an emergency.
Indoor Things to Do
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Before leaving, store valuables -- including jewelry -- in a safe-deposit box. Interior lights should be set on a timer. Ideally, have timers staggered so that a light on in one room overlaps for a period of time with a light in another room rather than having all lights turn on and off at the same time. Turn off electrical appliances and equipment. If weather could turn cold, set heat at a 55-degree minimum to help keep plumbing from freezing. Unplug sensitive electronics such as computers, television sets and other appliances that could be damaged by power surges. Remove and dispose of all perishable foods in refrigerators. Take out trash and garbage. Lock windows and doors. If you have security locks requested by your homeowner's insurance company, make sure they are operable and in place.
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Outdoor Things to Do and Not Do
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Do not stash a house key outside your home. Use dusk-to-dawn outdoor lights or solar-powered lights to illuminate doorways and driveways. Make sure outdoor shades, umbrellas and patio furnishings cannot be overturned by unexpected wind. Ensure that any sprinkler systems are in good working order and that timers are set.
Special Considerations: Swimming Pool and Hot Tub
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Make sure your fence is of a legal height for your area and that it is secure. Ensure that the entrance to pool area is locked. Make sure the pool or hot tub are in good working order, with all hoses and any supports unaffected by deterioration. If you have a locking cover on hot tub or pool, lock it. Have appropriate life-saving equipment such as a rescue hook and a life preserver accessible in the pool and deck area. Be certain that pool chemicals are stored safely away from the pool and deck area and follow manufacturer recommendations for storage to the letter.
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